taggart



(No Model.)

F. TAGGART.

HYDRAULIG PRUGBSS 0F ANB APPARATUS FOR RBDUGING AND CAONGENTRATING METALLIC ORES.

No. E mmm N4 PETiRs mxounmgnpm. wasnmgmn, D. c.

(No Model 4 Sheets--Sheet 2 P. TAGGART, HYDRAULIC PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FCR REDUCING AND CONCBNTRATING METALLIC CRBS.

No. 269,742. Patented 13650.26, 1882.

vals

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EL TAGGART. HYDRAULIC PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FCR REDUCING AND CONCBNTRATING METALLIC CRES.

No. 269,742. Y Patented Dec.26,1882.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 P. TAGGART. HYDRAULIC PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS POR RBDUCING AND GGNGENTRATING METALLIC GRES. No. 269,742. Patented Deo.26, 1882.

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'itisirTnn STATES PATENT Trice,

FRANCIS TAGGART, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HYDHAULlC PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOB REDUCING AND CONCENTRATING METALLIC ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,742, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed October G, 1881. (No model.)

To all ywhom fit may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS TAGGART, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York. have invented new and useful Improvementsin Hydraulic Processes ofand Apparatus for Reducing aml Concentrating Metallic Orcs, ot' which the following is a specification.

In my process tor the treatment ot' metalhearing ores the solid pieces or granules in the condition to which they are brought by a roclrcrusher are fed into an inclosed column of water, by which they are carried and projected in ajet under hydraulic pressure against anvopposing surface, by which action they are reduced, and thc reduced substance is dropped into a horizontal current beneath, induced by said jet, by which current the metallic substances are separated and concentrated according to their specific gravities. The lighter and non-metallic substances are carried oft' by an ascending current, which forms a continuation of the current induced by the jet, which ascending` current is made possible by air under pressure in a chamber acting upon the surface ot' the water of the horizontal current, the concentrating` and separating current being prevented from violent agitation from the i jet, and the substance ejected by it and with it, by reason ot' the arrest and dissipation of the projected jet in effecting the reduction at a point between the jet-producing nozzle and thel receiving' and concentrating` current. process eii'ects the disintegration ot the substance, itswashing, the separation ot' the metallic particles, their concentration. and the carrying oli' of the non-metallic matter by the water which imparts the disintegrating force to the fragments ot' the substance to be reduced and in one and the same operation. In my process the reducing operation takes place within a chamber ot' compressed air between the point at which the material is ejected by a downward current under pressure and a horizontal current the head ot' which, terminating in an ascending overliow, is balanced by the pressure ot' the air in said air-chamber, said overtlnw being induced by the ejected tiuid or medium. The substance to be, treated is fed from a t'eed device which operates to et'- t'ect a division of the gravitating force of the contained substance, whereby to avoid compacting the substance at the discharging-ontr- -with the said ore-containing chamber for the proper discharge ofthe substance from a closed chamber. An abutment or ring revolving slowly constantly changes the point ot' the iinpingement of the substance to be reduced, and thus prevents the uneven wear of the abutment and preserves it-in condition tit for longer use.

In the drawings hereunto annexed are shown gures ot' an apl'iaratus adapted for carrying out my process, in which- Figure l represents in vertical section a complete apparatus for reducing, separating, concentrating, and washing metallic ores in one and the same continuous operation; Fig. 2, a vertical section ofso much ofthe ore-containing chamber or hopper as shows the means by which to effect a division ot' the gravitating force of the contained substance; Fig. 3, a horizontal section ot' the same, taken at the line a' a' ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 3a showsin vertical section and plan details ot' the concentric rings which form the shallow hoppers which divide the ore-containing chamber, and the dia-meterbars for supporting them in tiers; Fig. 4, a vertical section of the abutment or ring and the air-chamber in which the reduction of the ore takes place; Fig. 5, a similar section otl the saine, taken on the line zz ot' Fig. 4, both these figures showing the relation ot' the revolving abutment with the ejector; Fig. 6, the ejecting-tube in section on an enlarged scale. Fig.' 7 is a section ot' the upper part of the ore-containing chamber, showing the movable cover. Fig. 8 shows a vertical section ot1 a bucket-elevator, used instead of the pipo S shown in'Fignl, for connecting with the screW-conveyer g ot' the hopper R to ett'ect the ascent ofthe largest particles ot' the orcv to a point above the level ot the fiuidin the overow-way of the settling-tank. Fig. 9 shows a vertical section ot' the pipe S, its connection with the screw-conveyer g, and its relation IOO with the overtlow-way of the settling-tank; and Fig. l0 shows a vertical cross-section ot' the settling-tank, taken through the collecting and flow-off trough Y and its cock.

To enable persons skilled in the art to which my improvement pertains to conduct the process and operate apparatus therefor, I will proceed to describe such apparatus as I have devised for the purpose.

For the ore containing and feeding device I use a suitably-supported closed vessel or cha mber, A, of iron or other suitable metal, preferably ot' cylindrical form, and in sections suited to hear safely an outward pressure of about tive hundred pounds per square inch ot' surface, and both air and water tight. This chamber has a hoppered bottom tapering downward to an opening suited to discharge the contained mass ot' fragments and particles of Tithin this chamber, placed one above another, are tiers of shallow hoppers a', of circular or other form, with equal or unequal sides, the depth of these hoppers and the iiiclinatioii ot' their' sides to be in such relation to their width lthat the material will entirely pass out and descend freely through the hoppers in effecting the feed. The tiers of hoppers should be placed one above another from thc bottom of the chamber, and iii the hoppered part A up to the top of the vertical sides ofsaid chamber. The center of the radial width or the space between the inclined sides of each hopper in atier is vertically over the ridge formed by the Ijoining of the inclined walls of the hoppers of the tier next below. Theyare, in fact, rings of .i ii verted-V shape in cross-section, arranged concentrically in tiers to form shallow annular lioppers having the cetiterot' the radial width or space oty each hopper in a tier vertically over and concentric with the ridge or uppermost angle ot' a ring in the tier next below it. This gives a space a, within each middle iing and between the inclined sides ofthe several rings of the tiers, so as to form hoppers open at top a and at the bottom 0.2, the ridge a, formed bythe joining edges of the inclined sides of the rings, being uppermost, and the position of the ridge-of each ring next below inthe middle vertically of the open bottom a2 of the hopper of the tier next above, so that thc substance will descend freely over the inclined sides ot' the rings or shallow iioppers through the spaces (t of each iier atevery point of the ore-containing chamber. A cone, a4, is placed in the center of the middle hopper of each alternate tier, and serves to form the hopper-spaces in the middle rings.

Each tier of hoppers is supported upon horizontal diameter-bars b-two such bars to each tierplaced edgewise, the bottoni edges of the rings being notched, a5, to tit the tops of the bars, and the bottoms of the bars notched, c, to tit thcjoiiiing edges of the rings or inclined sides of the hoppers, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 3. Theobject and purpose of this construction are to divide the gravitating force of the contained substance upon the tiers of small hoppers, ,and,supporting upon each tier a portion, prevent the whole force of its gravity acting upon the lowermost portion ot' the substance, or that portion which is in the hoppered bottom of the chamber, to compact the substance and prevent its outflow through the discliargiiig-outlet, and thus avoid the sticking and packing ot' substances usual in feeding chambers lor hoppers for milling purposes; and such results may be obtained by square shallow lioppei's arranged as described. This feeding-chamber may be ot' a size to hold any desired quantity. lt' for a ton of quartz rcduced, to suitable size of granules by a rockci'usher, then a chamber four feet in diameter and six feet high in its vertical sides will be nearly right, and a chamber eight feet in diameter and six feet high will hold trom four to live tons. That portion ot' the chamber above the upper tier of shallow lioppers is preferablyof conical form, and at the apex is an opening, B, through which to deliver into the chamber thc substance to be treated. This opening must have a strong cover fastened by heavy stud-bolts and screw-nuts, or other suitable means, as shown in Fig'. 7, to hold safely withoutleakage against an interior pressure of tive hundred pounds to the square inch, and every part ofthe chamber and its connections must have sirflicieiit strength to bear equal l strain.

Attached to thc outlet or discharge end of the hoppered bottom of the chamber is a conveyerbox or case, U, of cylindrical forni, having a horizontal conical or tapezing prolongation, D, entering a water-pressure chamber, E, ata point between its inlet and outlet. A screw-conveyer,F, isarranged within the conveyer-box, the lunction of which is by revolvingl it to convey away from the dischargingoutlet of the chamber and deliver into the pressure-cliamber li] the substance to be treated. lustich function,lio\vever,thcscrew-conveyer does not extend to the point of discharge from the conical prolongation, but extends beyond tlie hopper-outlet. The object ot'having this prolongation longer than the screw is to cause the substance heilig treated to be delivered into the pressure-claimbei' E in unvarying quantity during each moment of time, not intermittently, as would be the case if the conveyor extended to or into the pressure-chamber and delivered by each ofits screw-blades the small parcel oi the substance moving before it, causing it to fall into said chamber at intervals of time between the several deliveries. This coiivcyer may be revolved by a driving-belt upon pulley Gr, and by the use of conc-pulleys and shifting of the belt, or by other well-known inet-,lianical means the conveyer may he made to go fast or slow, and thus deliver the substance being treated in suitable quantity intol the pressure-chamber to bring such feed to the maximum charge which the force applied will bear, and thus secure economy in the process. The end of the prolongation of the oonveyer-box extends within the pressurefchamber to a point near to its center, and is about four inches in diameter, so that. the substance, being always in condition to descend freely by its force of gravity, is screwed into the tapering box,from which its feed is made continuous inthe inanner stated, and by which such substance is dclivered and caused to descend along the central line ofthe discharging-tube, and thusto some extent avoid abrading action upon the walls of said tube.

The pressure-chamber E Vshould. be about twelve inches in diameter', of strength to hold safely five hundred pounds per square inch of surface, and connects at its lower side with a vertical receiving and discharging tube, H, tapering to its lower end, made in sections tor convenience iu removing and replacing. To the upper side ot' this chamber is attached a pipe, I, about live and a half inches in dialneter, through which water or otherliquidor nonelastic tiuid is received from a reservoir or directly from a forcing-pump in such full supply -as to maintain within the chamber E a. pressure of live hundred pounds (more or less) to the square inch of surface while such liquid is passing out at the discharging-tube.

From a horizontal part, J, of the pipe I a two-inch (more or less) pipe, K, connects with thel top of the closed ore-containing chamber to insure that there shall always be pressure of the liquid above the substance in said chainber equal to the pressure in the chamber E in the cenveyer-box C and the lower part ot' the said closed ore chamber. This balance of pressure is necessary, because it is indispensable to the proper working of the feed trom a closed chamber that the pressure of the fiuid in all the inclosed space shall be equal so long as the feed continues.

The length ofthe section of the dischargingtube from c to d should be about sixteen inches. Its inside diameter at the large end should be about six and a halt inches and at the small end aboutthreeand ahalfinches. Thelength of the section from d to e should be about ninej teen inches; its inside diameter at the large end about three and a half inches; inside diameter at the small end about one and a halt' inch. The sectionfrom e tofisin length about twelveinches. Its insidediunieter at eis about one and a half inch and at fabout seven-sixteenths of an inch, and from this point its walls are parallel for about three inches; then' widening by acurved line to its top leaves no angles, as shown in Figs. 5' and 6.

The sections between c andfand between d and e must be finished smooth upon the inner and the outer sides, leaving the metal walls about three-fourths of one inch thick, of close cast-iron, with suitable tianges for fastening with screw-bolts. The lower end ofthe section between e and fis fitted into a tubular seat or ing-chamber, within which tubular projection the said section rests by a collar. These two sectionsthe lower and the middle section when finished inside and outside, should be made veryhard to resist abrasion by the sharp angularfragments of hard substances pressing through the tube.

The reducing-chamber M is formed by the cover L, which preferably has the form of an inverted basin, and by a lower open box part having-curved sides L and vertical ends L2, both parts being cast of iron or other suitable material. The width of these joined parts is about twenty inches and the depth abouttwelve inches, and they are joined by flanges properly seated and secured upon a cast-iron box, M', and made air-tight at such joining. This box is preferably of square form, and the inverted basin-cover L rests upon and rises above it andcovers an opening therein, so as to bring' the lower box part of the chamber M within the box which supports it, so that the greatest part ofthe depth ofsaid reducing-chamber extends within the box which supports it, as shown in Figs. 4t` and 5. This chamber-supporting box M is provided with lianges upon its tour sides, by which it is supported upon the top of a wooden trunk, N, and fastened air and water tight. l

A convenient way of supporting the de pending part of the reducing-chamber is by forming its upper edge with, a circumferential flange matching a sunken seat in the top of the supporting-box, and the curved form of its sides serves to gather the substance delivered within the chamber bythe jet and discharge it immediately beneath au abutment, O, revolving within said chamber.' in position cen trally with and below the discharge end of the ejector, so as to receive the projected substance upon its top side.

The lower section of the reducingfchamber is made removable when it may have become worn upon the inner and lower part of its curved sides, and a new one may, by removal of theuppersection ofsaidehamber, be readily set in its place.

The revolving abutment is preferably a ring of hardened cast-iron, about one and a half by one and a halt' inch in cross-section,its outer diameterbeingabouteightinches. ltissecured upon a shaft, P, upon a hub, Q. by a collar, Q', which forms a clamp, said shaft passingthrough the vertical ends L2of said redueing chamber M, and supported in suitable stuffingboxes in the sides of the chamber-supporting box. The hub Q is fixed upon the shaft and basa-circumferential seat,into which the ringabutment is seated, and in which itis clamped bythe collar Q by a nut, Q2, screwed upon the said shaft, as shown in Fig. 5, and thus the abutment is iliade replaceable when worn out; and to facilitate such removal and re placement I have shown provision in Fig. 5 for removing the shaft and its ring-abutment.

projection cast with the cover L ofthe reduc- This provision consists in removing the in- IOO verted hasincover L to give access to the abutment to unclamp its collar Q from the xed hub, The stuttingbox P2 is then removed to allow the shaft P to be drawn outa sntlicient distance to free it from the stutiingbox at the other side of the air-chamber, so that the nut Q2, collar Q. and ring-abutment O can be removed from the shaft and a new abutment. clamped in place upon the lived hub.

A pulley, P', on the shaft outside of the box serves to revolve the abutment, which, being revolved slowly, has its surl'ace withdrawn upon one side ot' the-jet and returned upon the other side ot' the jet, so that the substance shall not impinge upon the same part otl the circumference ot' the ring, so as to produce by continued action uneven surface, the object being to preserve the even surface of the abutment and to .secure such form of abutment as will last lunch longer than one receiving the substance constantly upon one point of its surface.

l may use as a surface ot' itnpingement the end surface or [iat side ot' a ring or hollow cylinder upon a vertical shaft, in which case, a clampingcollar would not beneeded; but the surface must be made hard, so that it will shatter and throw ottthe substance projected against it, and its motion mustbe such as to preserve its even surface.

The chamber-surmorting box M should extend down about i'our inches at its four sides below the top ot' the wooden trunk upon which it is secured, and is therefore below the bottom ot' the curved sides L' ot' the reducing-chamher A\[,which opens into said supgortingbox chamber, and these two chambers, thus communieating, forni a chamber for compressed air, within which the rtducing operation takes place, as will be more fully described.

A hopperl i, of iron or other suitableI material, is placed in the wooden trunk N in position to receive a certain portion, consisting otl the la rgest granules or particles of the substance treated, as it falls from the chamber within which the abutment revolves, and conduct it to a horizontal serew-conveyer, g, below said trunk. This wooden trunk N is water-tight, and extends to one side ot' the hopper lt a suitable distance, and communicates with a vertical trunk, T, which terminates in an overflow, U, the surface oi' which should be above the level ot' the water in the trunk N.

A vertical pipe, S, having its point ot 'outtlow higher than the surface of the water in the outflow-way ot' the vertical current, connects with the screw-conveyer g, which t'orces the substance deposited in the hopper R up in a liquid medium through said pipe and dclivers it upon an inclined screen, V. A hopper, \V, is arrangedv under this screen and empties into a box. h, the said screen being connected with a vertical spout, y. A bucketelevator maybe used within a vertical pipe for thc saine purpose.

The waterin the trunk N, by reason ofthe airpressure in the square box M', will be maintained on a line with the top ofthe said truuk, or up to a point about tour inchss above the lower edges ot' said hox. The space in this box above the water in the trunk N, and the space of the cover L, through which the projecting pipe passes, is iilled with air forced therein through the pipe i t'or the purpose ot' balancing the head ot' the liquid in the trunk T and in the pipe S to keep the surface ot' the liquid in the box lll/just level with the top ot' the trunk N. This space being once filled with air to the proper pressure, such pressure will be kept up bythe air entering the space along with the liquid and substance, or by the supply-pipe. \Vhen, however, the air-pressure in the space becomes greater than the pressure ot' the head ot' the liquid in the vertical trunk, the balance is effected by the discharge ot' air by the satctyvalve c, the weight upon the valve being adjusted so as to balance the pressure of the liquid inthe vertical trunk.

The granules of metallic ores or other substance ejected from the discharging-tnbe by pressure ot the liquid in the pressure-chamber ll and in said tube will be reduced in size, in varying grades, by impact upon the abutment.

The substance, after disintegration, drops from the curved sides L ot' the reducing-chamber M into the liquid in the trunk N, the coarser granules and particles passing down through the liquid and into the hopper R, and thence by the conveyer y and vertical pipe or elevator S to the screen V, while the lnely-reduced particles will pass by the carryingforce otl the liquid current onward in the tru nk N to the vertical trunk. The current flowing up this trunk will pass out at the overflow-way U, leaving almost all the metallic substance to descend to the horizontal trunk, which descent, may be facilitated and regulated by making the vertical trunk gradually tlaring to its junction with the overtiow-way, as shown by dotted lilies in Fig. l. For the same purpose the sides of the vertical trunk may be adapted for ad] usttnent by the attendant to suit the character ot' the substance being treated.

The particles ot' the substance which settle in the horizontal trunk are to be drawn forward from time to time, as they accumulate, by a scraper, X, the handle j ot' which passes through a stut'Iing-box in the end ot'said trunk. The substance is thusdrawn forward into and discharged from an outlet-trough, Y, and pipe Y, the latter being provided with a cock` Y2, for that purpose. The opening into the trough extends the tull width of the trunk, and is narrow at its entrance, as shown, t'or the purpose ot' insuring a. downward current ot" the water into the trough to carry out the substance. 'lhe substancetine granules and particles-with the outtlowing liquid, should then tlow into a' settlingtank, where, by complete lOO llO

subsidence of the reduced and concentrated metallic substance and off-flow of the liquid, the subsided substance maybe shoveled out for treatment in amalgamating-pans with quicksilver, or other operation for treatmentby other means. rl`he outlet of the collecting-trough Y is placed at the end, and the discharge-pipe ofthe trunk N forms a continuation of the bottom of said trough and projects from one side of the trunk. The discharge from this collecting-trough is intermittent to tiow off the sediment collected therein for further treatment. The iiuid passing oft' by the overflow-way should also go to a settling-tank, from which samples may be taken from time to time for examination, to show if the process is being worked with the best possible economy, aud for the purication of the liquid, that it may be again returned to the pump without carrying with it gritty matter to cut the working parts.

The screen V will serve to separate the flue granules and particles from the coarser granules of the mass ot' substance delivered upon it from the vertical pipe or elevation, the coarse granules passing by the spout y to a place of deposit, as at z, on a tloor. This deposit. may be taken by conveyers and elevators or by other means to a floor above the hoppcred chamber, to be mixed and returned through the apparatus with the regular charges; or they may be reserved for separate charges through the same apparatus; or they may be treated upon another like apparatus adapted to work them off continuously as delivered by the rst apparatus. rlhe tine granules and particles passing through the screen V fall into the hopper W with the tluid flowing` from the vertical pipe S, and pass by the spout 7s into the settling-tank 1,from whence,at'tersettlingtherein anddrawing oft' the liquid, they may be removed by shoveling, to goto alnalgamating-pans or elsewhere, as stated, for the concentrated substance passing off from the horizontal-trunk trough.

An important matter in my process is that -the current of water carrying the comminnted matter is induced by thejet and the air-pressure ofthe reducing-chamber and'without viocal tank forms an extension of that end of thef:

horizontal trunk to which the jet-producing current tends.

I have described the ore containing feedchamber as being closed and havin ga pressure therein equal to that in the pressure-chamber of the ejecting-tube; but this feed-chamber may be used with an open top and without eiectonconnections. A consequence ofthe application of this process for reduction and concentration of oresis that theaction ofthe water upon the substance of the ores has a softening, washing, and separating effect, which greatly. aids in the accomplishmentofthe purposes ot this invention.

Referring to the operation of causing theascent of the largest fragments of the ore through the pipe S to a point above the level of the Huid inthe overtiow-way U, it will be seen, Figs. S and 9, that the screw-conveyerg, being revolved by the pulley gf, will force the `reduced substance from the hopper R around the curve in the pipe S, and up in it to a point atsuch suitable distance above the surface-line U of the overliowway U as to avoid carrying along with the fragments too much water. A delivery-head of one, two, or three feet above the overflow-way U will, to the desired extent, prevent the ascentof water with thefragments of ore in the pipe, while the fragments forced upward by the screwconveyer g will fall outwardly over the top of the pipe S and be delivered upon the screen V, to bet'urther treated, as described. This relation ot thepipe S' to the overflow-way is shown in Figs. S and 9 by the .dotted line U', and itwill be understood that if the'discharge end ofthe pipe S were not above the water in the overflow-way the-water would be discharged by reason of the pressure of air in the reducing-chamber M from the top of the pipe S as well as over the overow-way. If the discharge end of the pipe S were lower than the bottom of the overow-way, then the whole supply ot' water along with the finer products of the disintegration would pass upward through and be discharged over the top ofthe pipe S, and thus the purpose desired in a great measure fail of accomplishment.

It should be observed that the fragments of ore will move upward in the pipe S by the action ot' the screw-conveyer for the reason that the water in the pipe will balance more than half the weight of the fragments of ore, although the current of the water is not sufiicient to move the fragments, and is not relied on for that purpose. lhe coarsest products of disentegration are thus carried off from below the point of reduction, and grades of liner products may be carried oft' in the same way `from other points of the settling-tank of a more eX- tended level current.

l have shown in Fig. 7 a convenient means for securing and operating the cover so that it may be unscrewed and swung out of the way by a crane.

I claim- 1.. The combined process substantially herein described of reducing ores and concentrating the metallic substance thereof, consisting in feeding the substance or granules into an inclosed column of water, projecting them in a jet under hydraulic pressure against a surface by which they are reduced, dropping the re-` lllO tts.

duced substance into a level current of water, separating and concentrating therein the nietallic granules aceordingto theirspecificgravities, and carrying off the lighter non-metallic substance, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The'combined process substantially herein described of reducing ores and concentrating the metallic substance thereof, consisting in feeding the substance into an inclosed column of' water, projecting itin ajet under hydraulic pressure against a hard surface, by which it is reduced, dropping the reduced ore into a level current of' water having a carrying force induced by said jet, concentrating the heaviest metallic particles directly below the point of reduction, collecting' the lighter particles subsiding in the current fiowing from said point of` reduction, and carrying oft the non-metallic substance, substantially as here in set. forth.

3. The combined process substantially herein described of reducing ores and concentrating the metallic particles thereof, consisting in feeding the substance into an inclosed column of water, projecting it ina jet under hydraulic pressure, reducing` it by impact against a hard abutment, dropping` the reduced ore into a level current ot water having a carrying force induced by said jet, separating and collecting the metallic particles in said level current, and carrying off' the non-metallic substance by an ascending overfiow-current maintained by the said jet and the balanciiig-pressure of air under compression within a chamberin which thereducing operation is effected.

4. The combined process substantially hereinbef'ore set forth of reducing ores and coneentrating the metallic substance thereof by hydraulic operation, consisting in feeding the ore from a water-tight chamber into a closed pressure-chamber, ejecting it therefrom under hydraulic pressure, reducing the ore so ejected by impact upon a hard surface within a chamber, dropping the reduced ore upon the surface of' a body of watercontined in ahorizontal trunk, and having a carrying force induced by said jet, and concentrating the lnetallic substances, the pressure in the feeding and projecting chambers heilig equal, for the purpose specified.

5. 'l`he apparatus substantially hereinbefore set forth, comprising a hydraulic ejector and an abutment of hard substance, against which ore is projected and reduced by hydraulic pressure, an air-tight chamber inclosing said abutment, a horizontal truuk filled with water, into which the reduced substance and the water from the jet are delivered, a vertical trunk having an overflow above and from said horizontal trunk, and means for maintaining air under compression in said chamber, whereby to keep the water-level in said horizontal trunk below the reducing-abntment, and to insure the outflow of a current induced by said jet at a point above the said compressed-air chamber in the operation of separating and concenstances delivered from said abutment.

6. The apparatus substantially hcreinbefore set forth, comprising a hydraulic ejector and an abutment of hard surface, against which ore is projected and reduced by hydraulic pressure, an air-tight chamber inelosing said abutment, a horizontal trunk filled with water, Ainto which the reduced snbstanccand the water from the jet are delivered, a vertical trunk having au overflow above and from said horizontal trunk, means for maintaining air under compressionin said chamber upon the surface ofthe current induced by said jet, and means for regulating the degree of' such air-pressure, for thepurpose specified.

7. rlhe apparatus substantially herein set forth, comprising a tapering hydraulic ejectortube, H, having a pressure-chamber, E, connecting with a water-supply, a suitable oreeontaining chamber or hopper connected with said pressure-chamber, and means for feeding the ore therein, with a chamber, M, an abutment, O, of hard surface, against which theorc is projected and reduced by impact by h vdraulic pressure, a horizontal trunk filled with water below said abutment, and means for concentrating the metallic substance from a flowing current within said trunk induced by said vjet, as specified.

The apparatus substantiallyhereinbefore set forth, comprising a hydraulic ejector-tube, H, having a pressure-chamber, E, connecting with a water-supply, a suitable ore-containing chamber or hopper connected with said pressure-chamber, and means for feeding the ore therein, an abutment of.' hard surface. 'against which the ore is projected and reduced by impact, by hydraulic pressure, a chamber, M, containing air under suitable pressure, and a horizontal trui1k,'N, filled with water and opening into said eoml'n'essed-air chamber at one end, and having means f'or collectingl and concentrating the separated metallic substance and terminating at the other end in an elevated overflow, as specified.

S). The combination substantially hereinbefore set forth of' the hopper or chamber A, containing the substance to be fed, having its containing space divided byhorizontal shallow hoppers or rings arranged in tiers, each tier composing one or more hoppers open at top and bottom, and arranged with the hopperspaces a of one tier centrally' over the ridge a3 of a hopper in the tier next below, with means for supporting said shallow hoppers so as to leave horizontal spaces between each tier, and a feed device arranged across the bottom of the lowest dividing shallow hopper in said I'chambery for the purpose specified.

10. rlhe combination substantially hereinbefore set forth ot' the hopper or chamber A, containing the substance to be fed, having its containing space divided by the horizontal shallow hoppers or rings arranged in concentric tiers, each tier composing one or more hoptrating the metallic from the non-metallic sub! ICO IIS

tied.

pers open at top and bottom, and arranged with the hopper-spaces a ot' one tier centrally over the ridge a3 of a hopper in the tier next below, with the horizontal crossbars b b, arranged edgewise between the tiers of shallow hoppers, a feeding-screw arranged across the discharge ot' said orecontaining` chamber, and a conveyer-box, D, having a length greater than' that of said feedingscrew for the purpose of effecting an unvarying feed from said con- 11. The combination, in apparatus for reducing ore, of a suitable chamber or hopper containing the substance to be fed, having a bottom horizontal conical con veyerfbox, D, and a feed device arranged therein of a length less than that of said conveyor-box, with a hydraulic pressure chamber, E, a hydraulic ejector-tube, H, gradually decreasing in area of cross-section to the ejecting-nozzle, and an abutment, O, of hard substance, the said conical eonveyer extendinginto said pressure-chamber in position to deliver the substance along` the center line ofthe ejector-tube, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

12. The combination, in apparatus for pulverizing ores and other substances, of an ejector with a ring-abutment, 0, arranged to receive the impact of the substance upon its changing ring'snrface, and means for carrying and revolving said ring-abutment with a slow motion, thereby constantly presenting to the projected substance the endless changing surface of a ring, for the purpose specified.

13. In apparatus forreducingores and other substances, the combination of an ejector and a ring-abutment, O, arranged to receive the impact of the substance upon its endless changing surface, with the rotating shaft P, a shouldered ri iig-seat fixed thereon, and means for removably clamping said ring-abutment upon said seat, substantially as specified.

14. In combination, an ejector, the ringeabut ment O, the rotating shaft P, the shouldered hub Q, the clamping-collar Q', and clamp-nut Q2, substantially as described, for the purpose speciiied.

15. The combination,in apparatus for reducing substances, of an ejector, an abutment of hard substance, and the shaft P for rotating the said abutment, with the box L L', open at the bottom and inclosing said abutment, substantially as described, for the purpose speci- 16. The eombination,in apparatus for red ucing substances, of an ejector, an abutment, and means for carrying and revolvingl said abutment, with the box parts L M', and the remov able box part having the curved sides L L', open below said abutment, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

17. The described apparatus, comprising the closed Water-trunk N, having the transverse trough Y and the flow-offock, the vertical overliow-trnnk T, the abutment 0, a hydraulic ejector, and a chamber, M M', for containing compressed air, open at the bottom and having one of its sides formed by the surface of the water below said abutment, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

18. The herein-described apparatus for reducing ores and separating the metallic'substance thereof byhydraulicoperation,comprising an ejector, an abutment, the settling-Water trunk N, having the verticaloveriiow-trunk T at one end and a hopper, It, at tbe other end, a screW-conveyer, g, in the bottom of said hopper, and a pipe connecting with said hopper and screW-convcyer,delivering the metallic substance ata point above the level of the overiio W-Way, and a cham bercontainingcompressed air, inclosing said abutment, the tluid in said pipe being maintained on a level with the overflow-way by the force of the compressed air upon the water in the settling-trunk, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

19. The herein-described apparatus for reducing ores, concentrating and Washing the metallic substance thereof by continuous operation, comprising the hydraulic ejector H, the abutment O, the trunk N, having a level current and a vertical overtiowway, T, and a bottom trough, Y, at one end, and a hopper, It, at the other end, provided with a screW-conveyer, g, and a vertical pipe, S, a chamber of eom pressed air, and ascraper, X, the several parts constructed and arranged for operation substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

FRANCIS TAGGART.

Witnesses z' A. E. H. JoHNsoN, J. W. HAMILTON J oHNso-N. 

